Excavating apparatus.



No. 677,538. Patented July 2, IQOI. n nALroN- EXCVATING APPARATUS.

(No Model.) implicati@ med m' 17 ma) s sheets-sheet z.

No.` 677,538. Patented July 2,- 190|.

' n. DALTGN.

Excvmm APPARATUS.'

Application med Jan. 17, 1900.)

6 Sheets- Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

. iig?" I@ I,

jai/Wdh@- ii Aww 4% N I" maw/d Wazaa No. 677,538. Patented luly 2, IQOL R. DALTUN. yEXGAVATING APPARATUS.

(Application led Jan. 17, 1900.) (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

No. 627,533. Pa'ened luly 2, ISN. E. DALTQN.

EXGAVATING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Jan. 17, 1900.)

(No Model.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 5. l

Patented Iuly 2, |90I.

a. DAL-ron.

EXCVTING APPARATUS.

Application md Jan. 17, 1900.)

6 Shaets-Sheet 6.

(Hu Model.) l

lin rre 'St-Arne PATENT FFICE.

RICHARD DALTON, OF WILMT'FE ITJIAINDIVS.

EXCAVATING APPARATUS..

SPECIFICATION forming' par?. Of Letters Patent NO. A677,533, dated July 2, 1901. Application led January 17, 1900. Serial No. 1.720- (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, RICHARD DALTON, of lVilmette, in the county of Cook and State or" Illinois,` have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Excavating Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following a full, clear,'and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

' This invention relates to an excavating apparatus for ditching and like purposes of that kind embracing a rotative wheel frame or hub provided with scoop-bearing arms which are pivoted to the said Wheel frame or hub and are movable laterally with respectthereto, so that the material taken up by the scoops while the latter are retracted may be deposited at the side of the line of excavation when the scoops are extended or moved outwardly by the lateral swinging of the scoop-bearing arms ontheir pivots.

An excavating apparatus embodying my present invention operates on the same general principal as that set'forth in my prior Letters Patent, No. 520,916, granted' June 5, 189i, but differs therefrom in several respects, as will hereinafter appear.

My invention consists in the matters hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

1 'In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1-is a vic-w in side elevation of an apparatus embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the scoopcarrying wheel of the apparatus. Fig. 4 is a verticalv longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the wheel", illustrating the scoop-locking device.

Fig. 6 is a section taken ou line 6 6 of Fig. 5. VFig. 7 is a detail plan View of a scoop and lockingdevice whereby the saine is secured to the wheel-rim. Fig. 8 is` a fragmentary section of the rim, showing the latch mechanism and adjusting-block. Fig. 9is a view similar to Fig. 7, but showing the scoop released from engagement with the rim. Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 9, showing distauceblocks inserted between-the plow-arm :rnd wheel rim. Fig. l0 isa ti'agmentary side elevation of the wheel-carrying frame, illustrating the winch mechanism. Fig. ll isa section on line 1l 1l of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a section on line 12 l2 of Fig. 1l. Fig. 13 is a detail of the operating mechanism. Fig. 14 is a longitudinal vertical section of a plow and plow-arm. Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the means for propelling the machine and adjusting the wheel to different depths of cut.

As shown in the said drawings, A indicates a carrying' frame or platform, which is adapted to be moved or shifted along the path of the proposed excavation and is preferably provided with su p porting-wheels B B at its front end and C C at its rear end, of which the wheels B B at its front end are mounted on an axle B', having central pivotal connections with the frame and provided with atong'ueB2. The rear wheels C C are mounted on an axle C.

Pivotally connected with the rear end of said carrying-frame is an adjustable supportingframe consisting of two rearwardly-extending arms D D and rearwardly and forwardly inclined beams D and D2, said beams being rigidly secured together at a point near the end of the carryi ng-frame and forming a frame which is pivotally connected with the said carryingframe, so that the rear end of the arm maybe raised and lowered. Conveniently the piv" otal connections on the two frames referred to are formed by the axle C', which is rigidly attached to the longitudinal side members A A of the frame A and to which the forward end of the arms D D, which extend outside of the frame members A A', are pivotally connected. 'The frame-pieces D2 D2, as shown, are attachedV at their lowerends to the arms D D, and the frame-pieces D D abut against and are secured to' the pieces. The oujter endslof the said frame-pieces D', as shown, are connected with the outer ends of the frame-pieces D2 by tie-rods D4 D4. A platform' D3 isattached to the framepieces D^D2. Said platform supports a steam-engine or other motor It' a steam-engine be used, a boiler E will be carried on the platr' formA.

Mounted on the rear end of the arms D D is a rotative excavating frame or wheel F, carrying a plurality of scoops G. Said Wheel is driven from the motor on the carrying self-sharpening.

said rotative frame or wheel embraces a hub H, rim I, spokes '.I, and acircular stay I', secured on said spokes on each side of the Wheel,

between the hub and the rim. The said hub is mounted upon an axle H', Supported at the ends thereof in bearing-boxes d d upon the rear ends of the arms D D. The whee1-rim is provided with a peripheral groove, in which rests a sprocket-chain K, by means of which motion is transmitted from the motor to said wheel. To prevent said sprocket-chain slipping on the wheel F, 'a sprocket-tooth 7l to engage said chain is provided on each side thereof.

Obviously inasmuch as the frame members D D D2 comprise parts of arigid frame which is pivoted upon the rear axle C the said frame may be pivotally swung as a whole upon the frame A for elevating or lowering the excavating-wheel without affecting the opera- 'tive connection of the same with the motor carried upon the platform D3. Plow-bearing arms J', herein shown as eight in number and arranged alternately on opposite sides of the wheel, are rigidly secured to said stay'I and rim I and extend radially beyond the rim I to a point slightly beyond theouter or cutting edges of the scoops. ofthe said spokes J' are cutting blades or plows jj, set at such an angle with the said spokes as' to insure efficient cutting action in 'the path of the advancement of the scoops.

The said cutting-plows may be of any desired shape or form. As herein shown, however, they are made wider or broadened at their cutting ends or edges and are designed to be This result is attained/by providing a tenon on the outer end of said arm and a mortise through the central part of the plow, the plow being secu red to the arm bymeans of a removable pin which passes E end of the plow.

through said plow and tenen, as illustrated in Fig. 14. The friction of said plow against the material through which the trench is being cut wears away the outer surface of the When this process has con'- tinued to such extent as to reduce the cut.- ting power of the plow, the same is inverted upon the arm, thereby presenting a new cutting edge. As clearly illustrated in Fig.v2, the said 'plows are offset from each other on either side of the rim of the wheel and are arranged at varying distances laterallyr from the plane of the Wheel in such manner that some of the plows cut on opposite sides of the excavation, trench, or ditch, while others cut at intermediate points.

vThe scoops, as herein shown, are metallic vessels orbucketshavingbottom, inner,outer,-

and sidewalls. The advance edges of the outer walls are sharpened and act as cutting edges in the advance of the scoops. Said scoops operate both to cut their way through the material to be excavated and also to scoop up material previously loosened or de- Upon the outer endsv tached by the plows. The saidbncketa'as shown, are eight in number and arearranged alternately on either side oE-said wheel-rim and outside. the peripherythereof in such manner that when in operative position'the said'scoops will stand in overlapped relation to each other circumferentially of the wheel or -may be placed in alinement with each other circumferentially. The width of the excavation, ditch, or trench will obviously be dependent upon the lateral distance apart of the outer side faces of the scoops,-and in order to enable such excavation, ditch, or trench to be varied in width I attach to the sides'of the Wheel-rim or elsewhere on the wheel blocks 12, in position for contact with the scoop-supporting arms when the latter are retract-ed, said blocks serving to determine the lateral position of the scoops` with'respect to the Wheel-rim and each other. If the blocks be entirely removed,the scoop-arms will rest close to the wheel-rim, and the scoops will then be in alinement with eachother circum ferentially of the wheel, and the trench will be no wider than the width of the scoops,.and by placing thicker or thinner blocks on the Wheel the scoops .will be spread. apart to al greater or less extent and the Width of the trenchv correspondingly varied. `Said blocks thus attached to the wheel constitute, in et'- fect, adjustable stops for limit-ing the inward movement of the scoops, and adjustable stops of other construction may obviously be used with the same result. W'hen the limitingstops for the scoops are set to cut a wider or IOO narrower trench, it is obviously necessary to I correspondingly change the lateral position of those of the plows which are located at the I greatest distance from theplane of the wheel and which therefore cut at the sides of the trench. .Provision for such adjustment is made by inserting distance pieces or blocks Ibetwee'n some of the plow-arms and the wheel-rim and by making such distance pieces or blocks removable, so that in the case of the plows which are atwthewidest distance apart blocks may be inserted of suiicient thickness to hold the plow-arms in proper position. y .y l

As shown in the drawings, the blocks I2, which determine the position olf the scoops, are secured Vby bolts -to angle-pieces I, secured to the inner surface of the wheel-rim,

while in the case of the plow-arms similar angle-pieces I5 are secured to the inner faces of the ,wheel-rim, and the plow-arms are secured to the rim by clips I6, which extend around the'arms and pass at their ends through holes in said angle-pieces,.the dis- IIO tance blocks or pieces I3 being inserted and clamped between the arms and said rim within said clips.

The buckets are movably' secured upon the wheel, as follows: Each ofl the four spokes on each side of the said wheel is provided near its inner end with a LugjU-,aforming one of the members of a hinge, and a similar member 7'2 with members of a hinge-joint complementall to the hinge-joint membersj and are indicated, respectively, by g g. The -bars are connected by oblique braces g2, rigidly secured to each bar, whereby the same-are held rigidly in proper relation to each other and the arms are made suitably stiff. The bar G',

which extends from the front end of the scoop i or bucket to the inner end of tlievspoke, is sufficiently longer than the bar G2 to insure the scoop or bucket being held in the most advantageous position while the same is being filled and emptied. inasmuch as the said bars are hinged to the spoke at different radial distances from the center of the wheel, it Follows that as the wheel rotates inthe dil rection of the cut ot'the scoop said scoops at at the front part of the wheel have a tendency to swing laterally therefrom when the supporting-arms thereof reach a horizontal position, as illustrated in Figs. l -and 2. Obviously the continued rotation of the wheel with the said scoop in its extended position causes the said scoop to be inverted, with the effect of dumping its contents therefrm at the side ofthe ditch. Whenthe spoke passes its vertical position, the pivotal supports of the scoop arein such positions that the said scoop swings backwardly to its retracted position against the rim of the Wheel, the scooparms in this respect operating in the same manner as those shown in' my said prior patent hereinbefore referred to. of the said scoops or buckets may be effected through gravity alone; but for the purpose of insuring the prompt return of the empty bucket to its position against the rim under all circumstances I have provided means whereby the outward movement of a full bucket tends to retract the empty one. parts are clearlyv illustrated in Figs' and el. The devices for this purpose herein shown are made follows: Each scoop is provided with a chain L, which is secured at one end to the outer end ot one of the spokes supporting the rim of the Wheel and at the other end is secured to the outer end of the arm G2 of the scoop. The said chains are of sulhcient length to permit the said buckets to swing outwardly to the full limit of their movement. In the bight Vof each of said chains, as shown, one of thelinks is made larger or a ring is inserted in lieu of the link, and each of said larve links'or rings is cons nected the ring of the next succeeding chain L on 'the same side of the wheel by means ot' lchains L L', the bights ofvvhich are passed around the pulleys Z, located ator'near The operation These.

the center of the wheel. The' length of-saidchains is such that when the scoops are in positionV against 'the rim, asillustrated in Figs. 3 and et, the said chains assume the positions therein' illustrated. W'hen, however, the loaded buckets swing outwardly, as illus* trat-ed in Fig. l, the weight thereof being much greater than that of the empty bucket, which has previously swung outward on the same side of the wheel, the strain upon the cha-in L is communicated to the similar chain of the said empty bucket by means of the connecting chain L', whereby the empty bucket is drawn back against the wheel-rim or into its normal or,cutting position.

As a further improvement lhave provided guides or supports Gr3 G3 for the loaded scoops or buckets, extending obliquely outward and rearward on each side of the excavatingwheel, as clearly illustrated in Fig. The

said guides are rigidly secured to the framework of the machine and incline slightly upward toward the dumping position of the scoops at each side of the wheel. As the loaded scoop or bucket swings outwardly the4 same is supported bythe-said guide. l Said guides serve to make the movement otv the scoops more smooth and regular, as they prevent the same from swinging too quickly and forcibly downward and outward under the weight of the loads therein when-the pivotalaxes of the scoop-arms reach the lposition at which gravity acts on the scoops to throw them on`tward, it being obvious that in the absence of such guides the loaded scoops might fall or swing withsuch force as to produce au undesirable shock or jar when stopped by the chains which limit their movement.

inasmuch as the scoop-supporting armh are pivotally connected with the wheel near the center thereof, said arms would need to be made very heavyiandstrong to withstand the IOO IIO

strain of the scoops in cutting if the stiffness ot the arms alone 'be relied upon to take such strain, and I have provided means for locking said scoops or arms to the outer part of the wheel or the wheel-rim in such manner as to prevent backward strain on the arms or backward movement of the scoops relatively to the Wheel-rim in the direction of the plane of the wheel during the operation of cutting; Locking means for this purpose are shown in the drawings and illustrated in Figs., 3 and il and in detail in Figs. 5, 6,7, 8, and 9, as

follows: 4As clearly illustrated in the said lgures, the front side of the scoop or bucket is provided with a bail g3, rigidly secured thereon and projecting forwardly therefrom; nearthe bottom thereof. to the plow-bearing arm J' and is .provided with an upturned end adapted .to engage the said bail g3 of the adjacent scoop. A. springcatch c" is rigidly secured on the rim, with its end projecting upwardlya ad adapted to hook over and engage thosai iatchjzand hold the same in a retracted position. p The upper end of the said spring-catch 2'vl is sloped or inclined outwardly from the said bail and is adapted to be knocked out of engagement with the latch 7'2 bythe said hail when. the scoop swings back int-o position against the rim afterdumping. Aspringjs, herein shown as a spiral n', ing-spring, is secured tothe said latch ,f2/uti to th'e said plow-bearing arm J and acts to draw the outer hooked end of the said spring-latch upwardly into locking `engagement! with the bail g3 when the bail (as the said scoop or bucket swings back to position againstthe rim) strikes against the inclined surfaces of the spring-"catch i and knocks the same laterally out of engagement with the latch. The-latch thus arranged bc viously serves to hold the scoop firmly interlocked with the outer or peripheral part of the Wheel While the scoop is cut-ting, thereby.

relieving the scoop-arm and its pivots largely from strain at this time. @As vclearly illustrated iu Figs. 4, 5, and 9, means are also provided for releasing the said locking device fromthe scoop at a point in the rotation of the wheelwherethe said scoop swings outwardly toits dumping position. Said releasing means are constructed as follows: A chain M is secured'to each of said spring-latches, nearthe midclle thereof, and extends radially in/Ward toWa d the axle'and passes around a pnlleym, secured on'the stay-band I. The outerend of said chain is made -fast to the' arm Gr2 of the scoop next in advance of the one about to he released, as clearlyillustratedin Figs. and 9.

As heretofore described,the saidscoop next inv advance will swing outwardly on the opposite nside of the Wheel'from the scoop to be released. The outward movement tlle'reof will bring a vstrain upon the chain hi, which will retract the latch'j sufhciently'for it to-be engaged by the detente". The bail of the scoop or bucket Will now be released from the locking engagement of the said latch, as vsho-vn in Fig. 9,

andthe said scoop will be free to s\\'ing"out Wardly toits dumping position. l/Vhen said .latch is disengaged from the bail, it is engaged -by the said catchz", which holds the 'same invits retracted position until the said scoop or bucket swings back to position against the rim, as 1oefore described, when the bail engaging tire said catch causes the release of the saidlatch,'whereupon it hooks into thel bail and securely locks the scoop to the 1 im,as before described.

Obviouslyanypropulsive or tractive means may be used in the operation of my invention; but preferably the means illustrated in Figs. l, 2, 1 0, ll, 12, 18, and l5 are used. For the purpose of advancing the machine during the'operation of excavating an anchor or stake N is rigidly secured some distance in advance of *he apparatus and in the line in which it is desired to advance, aud a pulley n is secured thereto, a similar pulley n bf nig secured on the front end of the frame j A cable O, preferably a chain cable,

passes through said pulleys, and one end I on a shaft YP, journaled --bers D D'. .As'showmthe said pulley? is fprovided with grooves iii-its peripheryand thereof is 'secured at 'the outer end'ofjthe frame member D2. cable eXtendsQbeneath the frame A-of said vmachine"andkaround a pulley n? at therar thereof. and is led upwardly'to awinch. "The said vWinch consists of a pulley P, supported The other end of saidf- .10

ou the frame niemj sprocket-teeth to engage the chainare located I insaid grooves. A-tensi'on device is provided for said Winch comprising afpnlle'y'lfsimi- -larto and inthe saine plane With the pulleyr P and yieldingly-con'uected with the frame 1 A by means of la strong spiral'spring Pmas The said illustrated in Figs.' 10, 1l, and 12.

inner-end of the cable is passed around 'both of the said pulleys, as illustrated iuthesaid figures. may be 'sustained Without the said chain slip- By-this means any desired 'strain ping, inasmuch as the said teeth on the periphery of 'eachpulley engage the links of' z the chain., Furthermore, any desired amount Aof frictional engagement with said pulleys may be'securedby passing said'vchain agreater or less number of times around said -pulleys, for obviously any number of grooves .may be provided in the peripheries thereof. `Obviously strain produced u'ponthe said cable O` b v means of the .said-Winch actsto a d-' vance the said machine along the path ofthedesired cut and also secures another de`sir.`

able purpose-that is to say, the s trairrcon1` A muu-icated to the frontend of thefra'me member D2 by means of the pulley n and'n. .tends i to lift upwardly'on the excavating-wheel, sof that a part ofthe weight of the same-When` y r0.5

cutting is sustained by the draft upon the said cable.` This is a matter of greatimponi' tance, for in the event of a scoop 'coming .in contact with any obstruot'ion-as, forinstance,

a stone in the line of the'cutthe forward.

movement of the apparatus ischecked some-` .vhat,.vrhereupon thegreater portion 'ofA thestrain produced by the Winch is brought upon" the frame in a manner to lift the Wheel and allow-the scoop to pass over such obstruction, whereupon the next succeeding scoop of the obstruction, if not too large, Will re move it.

nfs

The Winch heretofore.describedinay be'op- 'I erated by any desiredineans; butit is -preferable'to operate the same fron. the motor which drives the excavating-wheel. Forthis purpose I haveprovided operative connection between the same and said Winch, as fol-` lows: A shaft @,which carries the driving- A 1,25v

wheel Q', \vhereby'the. excavating-wheel 1s operated, is provided on its 'outerend adjacent to the''rame member D' with an eccentric Q3. An veccentric yoke Q4. of familiar constructionLsurrounds said eccentric. outer end of the shaft Pf is provided with a The ratchet-'Wheel P3 and an oscillating arm g4 is' pivoted on vsaid shaft and extends outwardly beyond the periphery of said ratchet and carries a pawl q', adapted to engage-said rotation in the wrong direction.

Obviously other pulleys may be interposed or the form of the winch may be modided Without materially departing from the principle of this feature of my invention, which is to drive the said winch from the same mo tor that operates the excavating-wheel and by the operation of the said Winch secure the advance movement of lthe machine and at the same time provide for lifting the 1Wheel to the extent necessaryfor the passage of the scoop over stones or obstructions which are 'so firmly embedded or so large as to make liable the breakage of the scoops.

- While in the drawings the said apparatus is shown set up in operative position'for the Work of excavating, obviously, inasmuch as the wheel-bearing frame is pivoted upon the frame A, as before described, the outer end of the frame member D' may be drawn downwardly to anydesired extent or to a position in which the same rests upon the frame members A, in which event the excavating- Wheel is lifted entirely out of its excavation. The machine may, under its own power or otherwise, be conveyed to any desired loca-4 tion when so adjusted. For the purpose of raising the excavating-wheelA out of the eX cavation when the motor is not inoperation a spplemental winch R of familiar form is provided. The said Winch R is secured uponA the frame A, and ropes or-'chains are attached at the ends of a cross-piece on the frame members D2 and applied in thev usual manner to the Winch, as illustrated in Fig.r l. By means also of this winch any ldesired regulation as to depth of the excavation made by said Wheel may be secured.

Figs. l1 and 13 illustrate means for propolling gaged in excavating. Asshown, the shaft Q is provided at its ends with sprocketwheels Q2 Q2. Complemental sprocket-wheels G2 C2 are provided on the inner side of the traction-'Wheels C C and in alinement with the said sprocket-wheels Q2 Q2, and sprocketchains c c are trained around said sprocket- Wheels. Clutches g5 g5, each composed of a ,fixed and a longitudinally-movable member,

are provided on said shaft Q adjacent to the frame members. Hand-levers g5 of a familiar form are pivoted on the frame and to the movable member of the clutch, whereby the said movable member of the clutch may be moved into and out of engagement With the complemental fixed. member on the same end the machine when the same is not en of the shaft. When it is desired to propel the machiueby means of said mechanism, the excavatingwheel is elevated sn fliciently high to avoid contact with the earth. The same is .disconnected from the motor and by means of the operating-levers 'Q6 qG the said clutches are thrown into operating engagement, Wherenpon the rotary motion communicated by the motor to the shaft Q is communicated to the `driving-wheels C by means of a sprocket before described. inasmuch as there are two of the said clutches, either may be used separately or both may be thrown into operation at the same time. propelled in the manner described, it will ordinarily be steered by mea-ns of a tongueB'r;

but Vobviously the steering may be accom-- plished by means of the operating-levers if Q6, direction leing determined by of one orv the other of said clutches into operative engagement, whereby one of the chains c upon one side of the machine will cause rotation of the traction-wheel C, While the other chain c on the opposite side of the machine is at rest.

l8o When the excavator is the throwing The employment of a series of plows-one in advance of each scoop-has the advantage of lessening the work to be done by and the consequent strain on the scoops the said plows when so arranged acting to loosen the material in advance of the scoops and de# posit such loosened material iu the scoops, the loosened material obviously filling by gravity into rthe scoops as it .is detached from the heart of the excavation bysaid plows. 'More'-A over, the material being loosened by the IOC plows and falling loosely into the scoops Will be discharged therefrom ,more readily and freely than would be the case if the material was taken up by the scoops without being previously loosened.

Many of the details of construction illustrated and above described are not essential to the carrying out of the broad features of my invent-ion when separately considered. The scope of the invention will be set forth in the appended claims, and it is' to be understood that the omission of an element or the omission of aparticular feature of any of the elements mentioned in any given claim is intended to be a formal declaration of the applicant that the omitted elements or fear tures are not essential to the invention therein set forth.

l claim as my inventionl. An excavating apparatus embracing a rotative Wheel sooop-bearing arms pivotally connected Wit-h the wheel and capable of lateral movement with respect to the Wheel,said

'arms being arranged alternately at opposite sides of the wheel and the scoops on opposite IIO sides of the Wheel beingadapted to stand in overlapped relation with each othercircumferentially when in their retracted positions.

2. An excavating apparatus embracing a rotative Wheel, scoop-bearing arms pivotally connected With tho Wheel and capable of latl l rotative wheel, scoop-bearingarms pivotallyy eral inovementwith respect to the wheel,said

arms being arranged alternately at opposite sides of the wheel and plows attached to the Wheel at both sides thereof", anflmeans for adjusting said arms laterally to aiord a de.- sired Width of cut.- A

3. An excavating 'apparatus embracing a 1 rotative wheel, scoopl-bearingarms pivotally plows attached connected with the wheel and capable of lateral movement with respect to the plane of the wheel, said arms being pivotedv to the wheel so 'as to swing about axes oblique to the plane of rotation ot' the said arms tend to movebolh outwardly and inwardly by the action of gravity, and means supplementing the'- action of gravity Vin the return of the arms frein-their extended to their retracted positions acting on said arms to insure their, return before the scoops on vthe same reachl'the ground in their downward movement.

'5. An excavating apparatus embracing a rotative wheel, scoop-bearing arms pivotally .connected with the wheel and capable of latv eral movement with respect thereto, and conconnected with the v ing-chains between the chains.

nections between the said armswherebyontwardl movement of each arm will produce inward movement of another arm.

.6. An excavating apparatus embracing a rotative wheel, scoop-bearing arms pivotally wheel and capable of lateral movement with respect thereto, connectpulleys for the same, ment of each arm 0f another arm.

7. An excavating apparatus embracing a rotative wheel,l scoop-bearing arms pivotally connected with said wheel-and capable of lat` whereby outward moveproduces inward movement eral movement relatively to the plane of the wheel, chains connecting each arm with the wheel and acting to limit the outward movement of the arm, armfactnating chains conL necting the limiting-chains with each other, and guide-pulleys for said arm actuating .8.- An excavating apparatus embracing a rotative wheel', scoop-bearing arms pivoted-to the wheel and having lateral movement rela.

tively thereto, and locking vmeans securing fthe scoops to the periphery of the Wheel and acting to hold the scoops'from movementin.

.Y the direction o t the plane of the wheel.

' 9.1An-'excavating apparatus embracing a.

- .rotative wheel..scoop-bearing-arms pivoted to f scoops' from movement with respect 'to thej w-heel in the directionof its planeof- .rotation said wheel and havinglateral'movement rela-V tively thereto, locking devices for `holding the wheel, so that the` oblique to the Vscoop-bearing,arms pivoted to the said arms and guide# Adriving pulley Y rotative wheel ,and means for automatically releasing said permit the lat-eral move locking devices to ment of the scoops. l Y

10. An excavating apparatus embracing a rotative wheel, scoopbearing arms pivoted tosaid wheel and having lateral movement relatively thereto,spring-actuated latches on the wheel adapted to vengage the scoops, catches acting on the latches to hold the same temporarily out ot' position for engagement with the scoops, and means operatedv by each of the said sociated with one o f the other arms. l1. An excavating apparatus embracing a arms-acting to release the'catchasrotative wheel, scoop-bearing arms pivoted to the wheel and movable with respect thereto,A said arms being located alternately on opposite sides ot said wheel, spring #actuated 'latcheson the wheel engagingthe scoops to :hold the same from backward movement with respect to the plane ot the wheel, and chains connecting each arm .with the latch belonging to an arm at the opposite side of the wheel.

l2., An excavating apparatus embracing a rotative wheel, scoop-bearing arms pivoted -to the .wheel and movable laterally withl respect thereto, saidV arms being pivotally connected with the wheel so as to swing about axes plane et rotation of the wheel, whereby said arms tend to move both outwardly and inwardly by the action of gravity, and oblique guides at the sides of the wheel. located in lposition to support and guide the scoopsinvthe outward lateral movement ot the same under the action of gravity.

13. An. excavating apparatus embracing a rotative wheel, provided. with a circular rim, wheel and movable laterally with' respect thereto, and driving' means for and a driving belt'trained around said driving-pulley and the rim of the said wheel. v

14a Anl excavating apparatus embracing a provided with a circular rim, scoop-bearing movableat their outer ends laterally with respect thereto, means for locking the scoops to the outer .part of the wheel vwhen said scoops are in their retracted position and means for driving-the wheel embracing a driving-pulley and a driving-belt trained'aronnd said pulley and said. wheel-rim. v l

15. .An excavating apparatus embracing a rotative wheel, scoop-bearing arms pivoted thereto and movable laterally with respect to said wheel, a movable supporting --fran1e, a wheel-carryiug frame pivoted to the support-` ing-frame, a motor and driving-gear for the wheel mounted on said wheel-carrying frame,

and adjusting means for changing the angle of the carrying-framelwith i-espectto the supf porting-frame.

'16. An excavating apparatus embracing a` rotative wheel, scoop-bearing arms'. pivoted thereto and movable laterallyf the wheeL-a movable supporting-frame, afwheel-'arryingf IOO vthe wheel embracing-a IIO point distant from its pivot and in a direction to lift the Wheel.

1S. An excavating apparatus embracing a rotative wheel laterally-movable scoop-bearing arms pivoted thereto, a movable supporting-frame, a wheel-carrying frame pivoted to the snpportingframe, a motor and drivinggear for the wheel mounted on saidwheelcarrying frame, a traction-cable actingin the supporting-frame and engaging said wheelcarrying frame at a point distant from the pivot thereof and a Winch for exerting tractive strain on the said cable whereby strain on said cable in advancing the machine tends to lift the Wheel.

19. An excavating apparatus embracing a rotative wheel, scoop-bearing arms onsaid wheel, a movable supporting-frame, a Wheelcarrying frame pivoted to the supportingframe, a motor and drivinggearfor the wheel, tractive means comprising a winch and a cable having one of its ends secured to the Wheel-carrying frame, at a point distant from its pivot and its other end applied to said winch, and operative connections between said mot-or and said Winch. f

20. An excavating apparatus embracing a rotative'wheel provided with scoop-bearing arms, a movable supporting-frame, a wheelcarrying frame pivoted thereto, a motor and driving-gears for the Wheel mounted on the A wheel-carrying frame, a Winch also mounted thereon and comprisinga rotative barrel or drum, a'pulley yieldingly secured to the supporting-frame and acting as a tension member for the Winch, and operative connections between said motorand winch.

2l. An excavating apparatus embracing al rotative wheel, scoop-bearing arms pivoted thereon, a movable supporting-frame, a wheel-,carrying frame pivoted thereon, a mo-` tor, and driving-gear for th'e'wheel mounted on the Wheel carrying frame, winch also mounted thereon, and operative connection between the motoijandthe winch comprising a ratchet-Wheel on lthe Winch-shaft, a pawl to hold said ratchet- Wheel from rotation in one direction, an oscillatory pawl mounted on the frame and engaging said ratchet- Wheel, a wheel rotat'edby the motor, a wristpin' thereonV and" a2co'r'xn'eetimfg-rod l,engaging said wrist-pin and -thef said' oscillatory pawl.

22. An excavating apparatus comprisinga rotative wheel, scoopfhearing armslpivotally connectedwith the Wh" ve'lja'nlc pable'of lateral movement Withfrespecttg. the Wheel,

and means for variablyilimitng Vthe inward movement of the arms, whereby excavations of varying widths may be'inad.

23. An excavating apparatus embracing a rotative wheel, scoop-bearing arms pivotally connected with the wheel and capable of lateral movement with respect to the Wheel, a

fseries .of plows attached tothe wheel between the scoops, means for variably limiting the inward movement of said scoops to give a varied width of cut, and means for adjusting said plows laterally of the Wheel, whereby the latter may be changed imposition to correspond With the position of the sconps.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 11th day of Janu` ary, A. D. 1900. y

RICHARD DALTON.

`Witnessesz C. CLARENCE POOLE, C. W. HILLS. 

